Coyotes & Flames Trade Ritchie Brothers

For the first time in NHL history two brothers were traded for each other as the Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes swapped Nick and Brett Ritchie.

Oh, brother.

The Flames traded Brett Ritchie and Connor Mackey to the Coyotes for Nick Ritchie and Troy Stecher today, completing the first trade of brothers in NHL history. pic.twitter.com/jGqlushGFp

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 3, 2023

Hearing #Flames are getting Troy Stecher and Nick Ritchie in exchange for Connor Mackey and Brett Ritchie.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 3, 2023

The trade also included defenseman Troy Stecher going to the Flames and defenseman Connor Mackey heading to the desert to join the Coyotes.

Nick Ritchie, acquired by CGY, is a physical 4th line winger who takes a lot of penalties. #Flames pic.twitter.com/HxkeI8VHzJ

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 3, 2023

The Flames were looking for some depth scoring and another defenseman and killed two birds with one stone with this trade. N.Ritchie has scored 21 points in 59 games this season, meanwhile Stecher has chipped in from the back end with seven points. Both are pending free agents and hit the open market this summer.

Meanwhile B.Ritchie has recorded eight points in 34 games this season with the Flames and Mackey is a 26-year-old blueliner who is a restricted free agent this summer. Does Calgary GM Brad Treliving make the fan base happy with this move after it was suggested earlier in the day the Flames wouldn't be active?

Photo credit: © Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports